Man, Woman, Person of the Year

To the Editors:

George McGovern, for never having said "I told you so."

Bob Del Russo Union, N.J.

The Man of the Year cover this year should feature a woman--any woman. Perhaps a composite woman to stand for all women who have put up with men for so long.

Mary Bjorklund Trumbull, Conn.

For Person of the Year: John W. Gardner, the founder and prime mover of Common Cause. He has demonstrated that citizen action can work and that the people's lobby is a force to be reckoned with.

Larry Bauer Cleveland

For his display of statesmanship, which returned a country suppressed by autocratic tyranny to democracy, I nominate Premier of Greece Constantine Caramanlis for Man of the Year.

John Constantinou Greensboro, N.C.

I nominate Pat Nixon, for grace under pressure.

Susan M. Carlucci Hewlett, N. Y.

Senator Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson. He is not only the Senate's leading spokesman on pressing domestic problems, but was also the major force in pushing the Russian emigration amendment through the Congress.

Randall S. Hoch Washington, D.C.

Men of the Year? The Arab rulers.

They succeeded in throwing the economics of the Western world out of gear; they made their countries the wealthiest on earth; they immensely increased (at Rabat) the threat of war in the Middle East.

O. Robinson Haifa, Israel

For Man of the Year 1974, I nominate the people of Israel. They have endured economic hardship, increasing diplomatic isolation and military odds such as few other nations have had to face.

Roderick Murray San Jose, Calif.

Two men deserve to share the honors for combining brilliant professional competence with the guts to say it like it is. They are Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz and General George S. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dooley P. Wheeler Jr. Salt Lake City

Man of the Year--the battered but unbowed Breadwinner--of course!

Mrs. Eugene B. Ward Park Ridge, III.

For Man of the Year, I suggest nobody--a blank cover to dramatize in particular the U.S. lack of leadership.

Robert C. Carson Naples, Fla.

Ingenious Idea

Your Essay on oil-country investments in the U.S. [Dec. 16] seems a bit naive. You suggested that substantial OPEC investments in the U.S. would result in those countries taking a greater interest in our economic welfare and stability. Taken a bit further, that notion could provide an ingenious idea for a real-life Bicentennial celebration: after 200 years, return the U.S. to colonial status. The idea is not altogether impractical, but will the people like it?

Kathleen Ryan Evans Lansing, Mich.

The Essay was extremely relevant. Unfortunately, one had to go to the last line to find the meat. If the U.S. can simply hold out until OPEC investments top $500 billion and are near $1,000 billion, we can nationalize the whole thing. The U.S. Government could immediately resell the assets to U.S. industry and utilize the money to pay off the national debt. Richard H. Finan, State Representative 19th District, Cincinnati

Permitting OPEC money to be reinvested in the U.S. is essential for our economy. This should make clear to us all when we buy gasoline that we are not simply paying a few pieces of paper; we are trading our land, our banks and our corporations for it. That's why we must cut down on our consumption.

Ernest Jellinek Haddonfield, N.J.

Don't Expect Suicide

Your article on Canadian nationalism [Dec. 16] refers to the irritation our American friends feel regarding Canada's oil policy. It should be noted that this is not an anti-American policy but an attempt to reverse the continental oil policy foisted on successive Canadian governments by the U.S. multinational oil cartel.

The facts are startling. Last year Canada produced 2 million bbl. of oil per day and shipped 1.2 million to the U.S. But our consumption is 1.75 million bbl., which meant we had to import 950,000 bbl. per day at an average cost of $11.70 per bbl.

Canada exports 60% of its oil production and imports a larger share of its consumption than does the U.S. Moreover, our reserves--only about eight years' supply--are less than those of our southern neighbor, and we will face an oil crisis in the early 1980s.

Surely no one expects Canada to continue this suicidal policy of exporting its dwindling resources. Nor would it make sense for us to export oil to the U.S. at $6.50 per bbl. and import from the OPEC countries at $11.70. Even good neighborliness does not require us to go that far.

T.C. Douglas, M.P. Ottawa

The writer is the former leader of the New Democratic Party and premier of Saskatchewan 1944-61.

As a Canadian nationalist, I am always amazed to read that being pro-Canadian is usually interpreted in terms of a negative attitude toward other countries, particularly the U.S. Have Canadians become so emasculated that it is not possible to say that one loves Canada, respects its heritage and institutions, and wishes to preserve its unique characteristics without being labeled anti-American, negative or self-indulgent?

William Murray Georgetown, Ont.

There is no growing anti-American feeling in Quebec. In the arts, particularly in literature, we have been and still are influenced by U.S. writers. The impact of American popular music is tremendous.

Our problem of identity has more than one dimension, but I feel that now a strong desire to take a more important place in the powerful North American civilization and culture supersedes the oldtime search for a clear-cut French-Canadian identity.

The U.S. economy is still the basic guarantee of our material security and cultural development. As Canadians, however, we Quebeckers are satisfied that the energy crisis forces the U.S. to have concern for and pay more serious attention to our country. We hope the day has come when you consider us no longer an obedient and silent satellite but a neighbor whose political, economic and cultural particularities must be seriously evaluated and respected.

Roger Lemelin

President and Publisher, La Presse Montreal

Free-Flying Joni

Joni Mitchell [Dec. 16] is a free-flying fairy princess who, I hope, will continue to enchant us with her talents.

Robert Guerette Melrose, Mass.

Joni Mitchell has always been a cherished idol of mine. She can touch some of the darkest and deepest corners of my senses with her insight, senses that only come out in me with the sound of her voice.

Hers is a very private affair with many of us. Now this privacy has been invaded, and she has been exposed to the masses.

Joni Mitchell richly deserves deep appreciation, not simply superimposed attention.

R.A. Rhodes Lincoln, Neb.

Unfortunately, your otherwise superb article on "Rock Women" omits one of the most prolific women composer-musician-poets: Laura Nyro. Ms. Nyro's lyrics express the poignant pain and blissful peace of those of us who dare to love in a cruel universe.

William Steele Rock Hill, S.C.

Because she no longer sings of pills or white rabbits, to say that Grace Slick has lost her creative flair is nonsense. Grace's voice remains hauntingly persistent, her lyrics romantic and irreverent. TIME, by all appearances you're just not listening.

Michael Stanfield San Francisco

You paid too little attention to Carole King. What Joni Mitchell is to lyrics, Carole King is to music.

Billy Carlson Savannah, Ga.

No Blatant Pounding

Your generally fair story about the Voice of America suffered from a lack of your usual perception. It is a distortion to imply that VGA is no longer "reporting on opposition stirring within Communist countries." Our news programs constantly carry legitimate stories about such stirring. You would have been more perceptive if you had recognized the effective difference: we are not blatantly pounding such stories in an obvious effort to subvert the governments of those countries.

James Keogh, Director

United States Information Agency

Washington, D.C.

Cry "Rape!"

The Third World exerts its majority power in the United Nations, and the superpower imperialists look at their former colonies and cry "Rape!"

How sweet the democratic process is --when it is furthering one's own self-interest. But when it isn't...

Gregory Lewis West Bloomfield, Mich.

It is hypocritical for the new majority of the U.N. to claim that it is only delivering the "automatic" votes that the old majority used to claim. For the old automatic majority never used its theoretical power to deprive a member state of its right to answer for itself in debate, or to drive it out of nonaffilliated organizations in a campaign of pressure to diminish its right to statehood --and thus to life.

J. Denis Paris

There is a lot wrong with the U.N., especially its General Assembly, but there is a lot wrong everywhere, even in these United States. How could the U.N. possibly be free from the flaws which run through the sovereign governments that make up this institution? How could we think the new nations would accept overnight our "rules of the game" when we, the old democracies, are still so uncertain and inconsistent about them?

But sober realism is not the same as despair. We must try to change the character of our relations with the Third World. The poor nations don't think we care; we do, but we must also be seen to care, and we must join with others to deal effectively with global poverty.

Our security demands the bridging of the gap between the rich and the poor nations. The U.N. can be part of the bridge, rather than part of the gap, if we will make the necessary effort.

James F. Leonard, President, United

Nations Association of the United States

of America, New York City

The writer served as ambassador and chief of the U.S. delegation to disarmament conferences in 1969, 1970, and 1971.

Cry Wolf

We wish to call your attention to a most unfortunate error, which could be quite detrimental to wildlife, appearing in American Notes [Dec 9]. Whether your quoted figure of 50,000 wolves inhabiting Alaska is a typographical error or a case of improper research, we feel that the true number and situation of the Alaskan timber wolf (Canis lupus pambasileus) should be stated.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, lists between 5,000 and 10,000 as the population of wolves in Alaska. The Government and all conservationists consider the wolf extremely vulnerable to human pressures (e.g., killing for fur). I do not believe that President Ford would purposely exploit a threatened species; however, the example he has set by accepting and wearing a coat made from wolf fur is extremely harmful to the remnant of the population of wolves in Alaska. We have requested that the President make a public statement denouncing the exploitation of wildlife for the sake of luxury items.

R. Marlin Perkins, The Wild Canid Survival and Research Center, Wolf Sanctuary, St. Louis

Fishbait's Fare

I was saddened to read of the dismissal of William M. ("Fishbait") Miller, the doorkeeper for the House [Dec. 16]. I remember, as will many Americans under similar circumstances, meeting Fishbait in his office. We were educated, entertained and humbled by the history and stories expounded by him. He was a delight.

Jean Tibbetts Everett, Mass.

William ("Fishbait") Miller's energy, dedication to and sacrifices for the House of Representatives will long be remembered. I was his campaign manager in the House Democratic caucus when years ago he was first elected doorkeeper. I recall his enthusiasm and his constant and dedicated efforts in the discharge of his official duties, and his concern that the best interests of the House always be advanced.

If I were asked to describe Bill Miller, I would say that he is a man who is witty, as well as personable, humane and decent. Bill Miller has been a friend whose service as doorkeeper has enriched the lives and inspired the spirit of all he served.

John W. McCormack Boston

John McCormack was Speaker of the House from 1962 to 1970.

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